Bedmates Soulmates

Fetching

slippers.

Fawning over him at dinner.

And seducing him in his study, a place that, up to that point, was used for work.

She dug a trap with her sweet smiles and honeyed words.

And he walked right into it.

Austyn suddenly lost his appetite.

A chair leg scraped harshly on the floor as he pushed back his chair and stood up.

He didn't bother finishing his coffee

A thought crossed his mind before he stomped off the dining room.

"Why is she applying for a job?

Elsie hesitated.

"Speak!"

The housekeeper sighed. "Young Madam said she wanted to gain some work experience, but I knew she was just making light of it. She needed a job to earn some money." 'Money?' Austyn frowned.

Why would she need money when everything was provided for her?

'Yes,' Elsie didn't notice the look on her young master's face and continued, "Young Madam has never asked for a penny from the McCarthy family since she got married to you. She paid her tuition fees from her own savings. I'm guessing she's trying to build up a little nest egg for next year's fees. That's why she wanted a summer job."

Surprise flashed across Austyn's eyes. "Has she always paid her school fees by herself?

"Yes."

"Her living expenses?"

Didn't she have an allowance?

Elsie seemed to know what he was thinking and said, 'Young Madam never takes any money from me. I offered to give her an allowance, but she turned me down. She said she was grateful to have a roof over her head and three square meals a day. To ask for anything more would be too brazen."

Elsie had gotten to know the young lady quite well in the last year.

She knew how much Kira treasured her independence

Austyn left the dining room without another word.

He didn't know if he should be mad at the girl for not telling him, or mad at himself for not noticing.

Even his housekeeper seemed to know more about her than he did.

Half an hour later, he was seated behind the Italian poplar wood desk in his office at the M Group.

Kai knocked on the door before coming in with a cup of coffee and a printout. 'Boss, this is your schedule for today. Your first meeting is in thirty minutes. I'll go and set up the conference room." Austyn nodded.

Kai remained standing, his eyes roving over the desk.

'Is there something else?"

"Yes, Boss," Kai said quickly. "I need to make copies of the contracts you took home last night. I was just wondering where they were."

Austyn removed a thick file from a small pile on his left and tossed it onto the desk. 'Here.'

Kai retrieved the file.

His jaw dropped as soon as he opened it. 'What....what happened?

The clean and crisp papers were creased and wrinkled, like someone had tried to make them into paper boats but gave up halfway.

Kai had put the folder into his boss briefcase yesterday afternoon.

They were fine then.

What happened to them overnight?

Kai looked to his boss for an explanation

But Austyn averted his gaze, which never happened before.

Discomfiture, chagrin, regret and all kinds of emotions chased each other across Austyn's face, which used to be so impassive.

An uncharitable thought crossed Kai's mind-his boss looked like a kid with his hands caught in the cookie jar.

Did his boss play origami with the papers last night?

That was so unlike him.

Dying of curiosity, Kai asked again, 'Boss, the contracts

"That's none of your business!' Austyn shot a murderous look at his overly inquisitive assistant.

Kai swallowed the rest of his question.

MAR

Don't you have a

"Don't you have a meeting to prep?"

"Yes, Boss."

'Then why are you still standing here like a log?"

"Sorry, Boss. I'll get right to it, Boss."

Kai bolted for the door.

His boss must have gotten up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.

"Wait."

Kai froze before slowly turning around. 'Yes, Boss?

Austyn didn't speak.

He tapped the hardwood surface with his long, graceful fingers, lost in thought.

The assistant waited with bated breath.

"Get me the HR manager, his boss finally said.